Network Rails North Wales Plans

[TDK]

1-the condition of track
2-the severe gradients
3-the stations are really close together
4-the curves

The ongoing renewal campaign will improve the quality of track between Shotton and Wrexham but the stop start service remains the same. By the time the unit accelerates to 40 its on the brakes again for the next stop!
Increasing the linespeed means increasing the wear and tear on the already unreliable 150's. linespeed enhancements will probably happen but where and when is anyone's guess!!!

There are some places you will get to 60, below are the places you will be lucky to get over 40mph.
Cefn y Bedd to Caergwle only up to 40mph
Caergwle to Hope only up to 40mph
Shotton to Penn y Fford is a steep up gradient so lucky if you get 40mph, Hope to Cefn y bedd once again close stations so only up to 40mph.

If the linespeed was raised to 60mph there would not be enough time to continue the service past Bidston with just 2 unit diagrams, I believe the service is highly subsidised by the Local Councils and the WAG, without this it would run at a loss no doubt!

 

[Rhydgaled]

Also since we are on the topic of tenuous tangent to the north Wales line, if it was electrified what happens to the Conway valley? that runs under the wires into llandudno I guess.

There is only problem I can imagine with Conwy valley line services in a scenario where it is not electrified but the north Wales main line is (to both Llandudno and Holyhead). That is depot facilities, since it'd be a long way under the wires to Chester or Holyhead depots, though the same applies to west of Swansea services after the south Wales wires are put up (unless Landore is transfered to the Wales franchise) and to the Cambrian if the marches line is electrified (I doubt much more than basic day-to-day maintenance can really be done at that two-road shed in Machynlleth).